Río Turbio is Argentina's National Coal Capital, a community born from mining. You can still see the Quonset houses, the first semicircular corrugated-iron buildings, and along the road you'll spot the narrow-gauge tracks of the train that carried coal to the coast.
Things to do
- “Dr. Anatol Kowaljow” Mining School Museum.
- Valdelén winter sports center (skiing and snowboarding in season).
- Dique San José Urban Reserve, the Bosque de Duendes (Elf Forest) and the waterfall walk.
- Fishing, trekking and birdwatching.
- Cross to Puerto Natales (Chile), 30 km away, to visit Torres del Paine (110 km further). Border crossings and requirements: check before you travel at Argentina.gob.ar – Recomendaciones para cruzar a Chile.
Getting there
From Río Gallegos it's 220 km via RP 53 and RN 40; from El Calafate, 200 km south on RN 40, partly paved and partly gravel (figures from the province). Tourism office: Gobernador Lista 288.
Right next door is 28 de Noviembre.
